James Thompson on Pudzianowski: “He looks uglier than I thought, even hideous”

Polish fight promotion Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW) has been able to prop up veteran James “The Colossus” Thompson for a May 21 bout against strong man Mariusz Pudzianowski. Thompson recently signed the fight contract and commented on meeting Pudzianowski for the first time:

You’ve just met Mariusz for the first time. What is your initial reaction?
I knew he was a big yoked guy. When I saw him on TV, he looked different.

Different? What do you mean?
He looks uglier than I thought. I’d say he’s even hideous… He must’ve fallen on his face when he was young quite a few times.

What can you tell about this clash? Do you have any strategy set for it?
I want it to be a great fight for the fans. I want to win so I can come back here. I don’t have any special game plan. I will put on a show and have my hand raised at the end.

Many U.S. MMA fans will best remember “The Colossus” for his May 2008 EliteXC bout with Kimbo Slice in which his blood-filled cauliflower ear got splattered all over prime time CBS television.

Talk about ugly… The only thing uglier than that is Thompson’s record (15-14, 1 NC). “The Colossus” has only won three of his last 16 fights. Pudzianowski is 3-1 in his short pro MMA career.

KSW 16 is scheduled for May 21 at Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland. Also expected to take place on the card is a middleweight match-up between Matt Lindland vs. Mamed Khalidov.